Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2025

A Seminiferous Tubule Squash Technique for the Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis Using the Mouse Model
Published on: February 6, 2018
Role of p38 MAPK Signalling in Testis Development and Male Fertility
Dandan Luo1,2,3, Zhao He1,3, Chunxiao Yu1,2,3
1Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China.
Abstract:
The testis is an important male reproductive organ, which ensures reproductive function via the secretion of testosterone and the generation of spermatozoa. Testis development begins in the embryonic period, continues after birth, and generally reaches functional maturation at puberty. The stress-activated kinase, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), regulates multiple cell processes including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and cellular stress responses. p38 MAPK signalling plays a crucial role in testis development by regulating spermatogenesis, the fate determination of pre-Sertoli, and primordial germ cells during embryogenesis, the proliferation of testicular cells in the postnatal period, and the functions of mature Sertoli and Leydig cells. In addition, p38 MAPK signalling is involved in decreased male fertility when exposed to various harmful stimuli. This review will describe in detail the biological functions of p38 MAPK signalling in testis development and male reproduction, together with its pathological role in male infertility.
Related Concept Videos
MAPK Signaling Cascades
Testosterone: Functions and Regulation
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Spermatogenesis
Testes: Histology
The spermatogenic cells, responsible for producing sperm, are...
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway

